Discovery Activity 12: Speed And Stopping Distance printable pdf download

Discovery Activity 12: Speed And Stopping Distance

Discovery Activity 12: Speed and Stopping Distance

Suppose while driving you see the brake lights of the car in front of you come on. If you assume

the car ahead is going to stop and your brakes must be applied, then how far will your car travel

before it comes to a stop? In other words, what is the stopping distance from the moment your

brain receives the signal to brake until the car is no longer moving?

The table below contains data on this situation. Note that the total stopping distance is the sum

of the reaction distance (distance traveled from the time you realize that you must brake until the

brakes are applied) and the braking distance (distance traveled after the brakes are applied).

Average Stopping Distance of Cars on Dry Level Pavement

Reaction

Braking

Total Stopping

Speed

Distance

(mph)

(feet)

105

149

188

243

300

366

455

532

Stopping distances are based on tests made by U.S. Bureau of Public Roads.

Driver reaction distance is based on the reaction time of

second.

a. Observe the pattern of the quantities in first two columns of the table above. What type of

function exhibits this pattern? Explain.

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b. Find an equation that gives the reaction distance R (in feet) as a function of the speed x (in

miles per hour). Hint: Find the slope, m, and y-intercept, b, and then put in form

Discovery Activity 12: Speed And Stopping Distance